Olympic Track and Field 2012: 4 Dark Horses Who Will Surprise on Podium

While it is fun to watch powerhouses like Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps rack up medals and take their place on podiums that have become like a second home to them, the story of a dark horse coming out of nowhere and stunning everyone is always something that gets the people on their feet.

Dark horses can give the people of less dominant Olympic countries—like Qatar, Algeria and the Dominican Republic—a reason to cheer.

There is nothing like seeing a competitor stand on the podium, as their country's national anthem plays in the background, knowing that all their hard work that they had put in to get there has paid off.

Here are four track and field Olympians who have a chance to upset the favorites in London.

The referee said Makhloufi was guilty of “failure to compete honestly with bona fide effort.”

Later, it came to light that Makhloufi had been nursing a painful knee injury and was saving himself for the 1500-meter final. After further examination by a medical officer, Makhloufi was reinstated just hours after being thrown out.

Makhloufi ranked first in both his Round 1 and the semifinal races.

A metaphor for how Makhloufi has taken the field by storm is the conclusion to his semifinal race.

In the final 250 meters of the race, he made current Olympic and world champion Asbel Kiprop of Kenya look like he was standing still and gaped him.

While Makhloufi has done great so far, you have to expect that the turmoil he went through Monday will have some effect on him in the finals.

He also still has to hold off Silas Kiplagat and Nixon Kiplimo Chepseba of Kenya, New Zealander Nicholas Willis and Kiprop in the final if he hopes to make it to the podium.